Previewing Cavs opponents: Toronto Raptors
Cavs news and links for Wednesday, October 2.
Day two of training camp is today for the Cleveland Cavaliers. Here’s a recap of the first day if you missed it.
The first sip
The Toronto Raptors aren’t ready to compete. Unlike in previous seasons, it seems like Masai Uijiri is admitting it. Toronto has interesting pieces on the roster in Scottie Barnes and RJ Barrett. Outside of that, it’s developmental players or veterans that will likely be moved before this team is competitive again. That isn’t enough to stay afloat in a talented Eastern Conference.
The Raptors are however more competent than most of the tanking teams in the East. They will be a tougher fight than the Charlotte Hornets, Washington Wizards, and Brooklyn Nets on a nightly basis. Barnes and Barrett are good enough to win games on their own if they are on. But it won’t be enough to pull out more than a few victories against the best teams in the conference.
Toronto is a good organization. They will find a way to be competitive again sooner rather than later. But fully embracing this rebuild has been long overdue.
How the Cavs played the Raptors last year
The Cavs won two out of three last year which included an ugly three-point win in November. Tristan Thompson played a large role in the victory.
The Cavaliers were lacking energy that game. Thompson helped turn that around as he grabbed four offensive rebounds in the second half. The Cavs won his minutes by seven points.
“There’s a reason he’s made it this long in the league,” former head coach J.B. Bickerstaff said about Thompson after the win. “He impacts winning in a way that most people can’t. It’s just gritty, though, nasty things that nobody else is willing to do.”
This was one of the first times we saw that Thompson still could provide something on the court. He showed us a glimpse of the player who used to terrorize teams like the Raptors in the playoffs with his offensive rebounding.
Cavs vs Raptors this season
- at Toronto - Oct. 23, opening night
- Home - Nov. 24
- Home - Jan. 9
- at Toronto - Feb. 12
Notable players who have played for both franchises
- C.J. Miles made a brief 40-game pitstop in Toronto during the 2018-19 season. Miles played two seasons with the Cavs where he averaged 10.6 points on 38.8% three-point shooting from 2012-14.
- Shawn Marion, the four-time All-Star with the Phoenix Suns, made four additional stops in his career. He ended the 2008-09 campaign in Toronto. His last season in the league was with the Cavs in 2014-15 where he started 24 games and averaged 4.8 points and 3.5 rebounds.
- Donyell Marshall spent two seasons with the Raptors before coming to Cleveland in 2005. Marshall was with the Cavs for two seasons and was a part of the franchise’s first team to go to the NBA Finals.
The second sip
I know it’s only training camp, but Evan Mobley’s jumper looks good.
Here’s a quick glimpse of Evan Mobley’s improved 3-point shot. pic.twitter.com/qYX3CVJVMo
— Danny Cunningham (@RealDCunningham) October 1, 2024
Cavs news
- Media Day roundup
- Recap of day one of training camp
- Caris LeVert just got over his knee injury two or three weeks ago
- Isaac Okoro strongly considered signing the qualifying offer